She was born around 11:45PM.
She had a very strong sucking reflex quickly after birth and beat momma to standing by a half hour.
When we did get Zavrina up she and the baby just never made it into the same place at the same time, I tried to let them get their barrings and work it out but did jump in and hold the baby around 1:30. The baby does worse with the help, she doesn't want the help. She refuses to take a bottle in any way, shape or form. We tried until 2:30 and called several vets. Both said to keep trying and we can tube the colostrum into the baby this morning, (Left emergency calls around 5AM saying I need them to come out now) NOW both vets are on calls and cannot make it out until after noon. I have called four other vets, waiting to hear back from three of them. One, an hour away, just called and is leaving in a half hour so should be here by 10:00AM.

Advice?! Does anyone have any tricks? Shes still pretty strong, she gets up, she neighs, trots around the stall, sucks on moms arm pit and or flank but WILL NOT get it right! We've been trying to hold her in place and help her, we've tried a bottle, we've tried our hand, we've tried leaving them alone to figure it out.

Momma is getting very agitated now and not holding still real well at this point (for the baby) without being held, so I am currently holding her in hopes that by some miracle this dumb baby will get things right.

Milk out the mare and bottle feed the baby ASAP, if at all possible. Get a couple of people to help, if you can get someone to cradle hold the baby it's easier for the person holding the bottle to get the baby to nurse.

Have someone restrain the mare while you attempt to put the baby on her. If her bag is very full and tender you may need to twitch the mare while you attempt to get the baby on her.

If you've already passed the window of time (6 hours) that the baby can absorb immunities through the colostrom, some of the urgency goes out of this. You still need the baby to nurse, of course, but the big push is to get the colostrom in them before 6 hours.

Get a vet out and have an IGg drawn on the baby; with the timing, it is likely that the baby did not get enough colostrom and will need a plasma transfusion.

You have my sympathy. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get a foal to nurse when the clock is ticking. Good luck.

Agree totally with Maura. Foals go downhill very fast so you need to act now. Sedate the mare if you have to. The mare will come around and her mothering instincts will eventually kick in (IMO) but the important thing is to get the foal some milk. They need the colostrom.

Does the mare have enough milk? If not, oxytocin will help produce milk and possibly help her be more drawn towards her baby. It's relatively cheap too.

Milk out the mare and bottle feed the baby ASAP, if at all possible. Get a couple of people to help, if you can get someone to cradle hold the baby it's easier for the person holding the bottle to get the baby to nurse.

Have someone restrain the mare while you attempt to put the baby on her. If her bag is very full and tender you may need to twitch the mare while you attempt to get the baby on her.

If you've already passed the window of time (6 hours) that the baby can absorb immunities through the colostrom, some of the urgency goes out of this. You still need the baby to nurse, of course, but the big push is to get the colostrom in them before 6 hours.

Get a vet out and have an IGg drawn on the baby; with the timing, it is likely that the baby did not get enough colostrom and will need a plasma transfusion.

You have my sympathy. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get a foal to nurse when the clock is ticking. Good luck.

Great advice. If I could, I'd drive up and at least try to help in some way.

I'd try to get a hold of some friends or family that can come help you out. Milk mom, restrain the foal and either tube her or force the milk into her mouth just to get something into her. Your hubby could probably hold the baby while you get milk into her, but you may have to separate mom if she starts freaking out.

I do hope your able to get her to start nursing soon, or at least will be able to get milk into her. Sending hope your way...

"The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with
him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too."
-Samuel Butler

Just a quick update. Vet did make it and we milked the mare, tubed 1.5 liters of first milk into the filly then she took a good long nap. I have tried twice since to help her nurse, drink from a bucket etc.. she hasn't figured either out. She is super interested and has finally narrowed it down to knowing the milk comes from the back. But she still will not look under there, she nurses off from the side of the bag. She is not interesting in drinking from a bucket but I keep offering. We managed to force syringe another half cup in her before she was dis-interested and went bucking around the stall then napped again. Headed back out shortly to shoot for another half cup (hopefully more)...

And just a side note, the problem isn't the mare. She has tons of milk, still streaming if the foal comes near her. She stands alright but is getting stressed and doesn't know quite what to do. She gives the filly plenty of chances though maybe not as many as an experienced brood mare but stand fantastic to be milked out.

The vet says both mare and foal are fine. Commented on how strong and feisty the baby is. He is just as puzzled as to WHY this little filly hasn't figured out how to nurse yet. She will suck on every body part but the right one and REFUSES to bottle feed.

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